for as I have greatly suffered for Christ, so I have been greatly comforted thro' Christ.

and the hopes I had of you continue still the same, knowing that as you have had your share of suffering, so you will likewise have of consolation.

as some of you have already own'd, that I am matter of joy to you, as you will be to me in the day of the Lord Jesus Christ:

not to call upon you as I pass into Macedonia, but in my return from thence, to be conducted by you toward Judea.

was this design therefore the effect of levity? or do I design first one thing, and then another, as it best suits my worldly interest?

to whom you forgive any thing, I also forgive: for if I have forgiven any thing, I forgave it, for your sakes (as Christ is

by the one my preaching is taken as a deadly poison, to the other it is a reviving potion. and who is so sufficient for such a commission?

for we are not like others, who adulterate the word of God; but we preach the pure gospel of Christ, as I receiv'd it from God, and as in the presence of God.

Do I begin again to commend my self? or need I, as some others, commendatory letters to you, or from you?

and do not act as Moses did, who threw a veil over his face so as to hinder the children of Israel from perceiving the end of that which was to cease:

but as we lay aside the veil, the divine light gradually informs the mind, according as we attend to that spiritual sense, which points out the Lord.

renouncing all secret dishonesty, and void of all artifice, I deliver the word of God unadulterated, and recommend my self by urging the truth home to every man's conscience, as in the presence of God.

but this treasure is lodg'd in such earthen vessels as we are, that the exceeding efficacy of it may appear to be from God, and not from us.

for as long as I live I shall be exposed to death for the sake of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest by the preservation of our mortal life.

Having by the same spirit the same faith as David had when he said, "I believed, and therefore have I spoken:" I also believe, and therefore I speak;

for I have no regard to the things which are visible, but to such as are invisible: since visible things are temporary, but the invisible are eternal.

now he that hath prepared us for this very state, is God, who hath given us the spirit as a pledge of it.

for we must all appear before the tribunal of Christ; that every one may receive the retribution, according as his actions in the body were either good or evil.

Shall I then, who know this terrible judgment of the Lord, endeavour to appease men? as for God, I am approved by him, and I trust also you are convinced of my being so approved.

to this I am urg'd by the love I bear to Christ, persuaded as I am, that if one died for all, then were all in a dying state: and that he died for all,

as for us, we give no occasion of offence, that our ministry may not be blamed:

but in all things I approve myself as the minister of God, by great constancy in afflictions, in torments, in distresses, from stripes,

in honour and disgrace, under infamy, and in repute: look'd upon as an impostor, while I say what is true;

as unknown, and yet celebrated; as dying, and yet I am alive; as chastised, but not slain;

as sorrowful, though always cheerful; as poor, tho' inriching many; as having nothing, though contented with every thing.

our affections are as enlarged towards you, as yours are contracted towards us.

I address myself to you as a parent, be not you wanting in the returns of filial respect to me.

and what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God has said, "I will dwell with, and walk among them; I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

Receive me as one who has wronged no man, who has corrupted no man, who has defrauded no man.

now I rejoice, not at your uneasiness, but at your repentance which succeeded: for your sorrow was a religious sorrow, such as convinc'd you I had done you no wrong.

so that I am not ashamed of the commendations I have formerly given you to him; but as I have always preached the truth to you, so in my commendation to Titus, I have said nothing but truth of you.

I therefore desired Titus, as he had begun, to finish this contribution among you.

that as you excel in every thing, in faith, in language, mystical knowledge, in all virtue, and in your affection to us; I hope you will excel too in this charitable disposition.

I don't mean to prescribe to you, but that the zeal of others may show you are as sincerely well-affected.

for you are sensible of the beneficence of our Lord Jesus Christ; powerful as he was, for your sake he became poor, that you through his poverty might be made rich.

Pray then, dispatch this affair; as you readily undertook it, as readily perform it, to the best of your abilities.

that as your present sufficiency supplies their wants, their sufficiency may supply your occasions another way: and thus there will be an equality.

as it is written, " he that had much, had nothing over, and he that had little, had no lack."

now as to Titus, he is my collegue, and assists me in your affairs: as to our brethren, they are the deputies of the churches, and the glory of the christian profession.

As to the relief of the converts, it is superfluous for me to write to you.

I thought it therefore necessary to counsel the brethren to go before, and settle the management of the contribution by this previous notice, that it might have such dispatch, as shows a bountiful, and not a niggardly temper.

let every man give as he is disposed in his own mind, without any regret or reluctance: for God loves a cheerful benefactor.

as it is written, " he hath distributed, he hath given to the poor: his liberality remaineth for ever."

having this proof of you by such a supply, they will glorify God for your profess'd subjection to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution to them as well as others;

when I am present, which I think to exercise against some, who censure me, as if I was actuated by worldly views.

Do ye judge of things by the outward appearance? if any man is confident in himself, that he is Christ's, let him from himself conclude too, that as he is Christ's, even so are we.

but that I may not seem as if I would strike a terror in you by letters:

for I am jealous over you with religious jealousy: since I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.

but I fear lest by some means or other, as Eve was beguiled by the subtilly of the serpent, your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is due to Christ.

when I was present among you, and in want, I was chargeable to no man: for the brethren which came from Macedonia, supplied my necessities: and as I have, so I always shall keep myself from being burdensome to you.

but this I do, and shall do, to make them drop their hire, who are so bent upon hire: and then indeed they will be as they pretend to be, like me.

for these are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguised so as to pass for true apostles.

therefore it is not strange if his agents are so disguised as to appear like ministers of the gospel; but their end shall be answerable to their actions.

I say it again, let no man think me vain; but if they do, yet as such, bear with me, that I too may applaud my self a little.

what I say, I say it not as an apostle, but as it were to indulge my vanity in this matter of boasting.

for as wise as you are your selves, you easily bear with the folly of others.

if a man impose upon you, if he preys upon you, if he makes a gain of you, if a man insults you, if he disgracefully assaults you, I mean it as to their reproaches, you take it all;

as if I was inferior to them. but whatever they pretend to, (I must be so vain) I pretend to the like.

this I know, that he was snatch'd up into paradise, and heard such secrets as it is not lawful for a man to reveal.

'tis own'd I did not put you to any charges myself: but was so crafty, as to over-reach you, by others.

do you think I have been making excuses for not coming? as I am a christian, in the presence of God, I have, my beloved, in every thing consulted your advantage.

yet I fear when I do come I shall not find you such as I would, and that you will find me such as you least desire: I am afraid there are among you debates, envyings, animosities, strifes, backbitings, whisperings, arrogance, tumults:

Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; bring yourselves to the proof; are you so little acquainted with yourselves, as not to know whether Jesus Christ be in you? but if you are destitute of proofs,

now I pray God that I may not punish you; not that I may show you my proofs to your cost, but that by your acting honestly, I may be as if I had no proofs: